Current-cycle decision support
Turn confirmed information into a first practice
Allocate a limited same-day appointment
Practise making a fair, patient-safe recommendation when capacity is limited. Review whether you identify missing clinical information, avoid blaming either patient, explain your prioritization, and offer a workable alternative; then record again.
Quick facts
- Degree: Master of Medical Science.
- Format: 24-month, 109-credit low-residency hybrid.
- Base: downtown Honolulu with scheduled immersions.
- Entry: January 2027.
- Interview: virtual MMI.
- Accreditation: ARC-PA Accreditation-Provisional.
Admission requirements
Applicants need a bachelor's degree before verification, minimum 3.0 cumulative and science GPAs with a narrow published exception, prerequisite grades of C or higher, two recommendations, and 500 hours of direct hands-on U.S. patient care. No GRE, MCAT, or other entrance exam is required. Official admissions page
Important dates
- April 30, 2026: CASPA opens.
- August 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern: application, transcript, and recommendation deadline.
- September 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern: CASPA verification deadline.
- Fall 2026: virtual interviews.
- January 2027: orientation and classes begin.
How selection works
After minimum screening, HPU scores and ranks applications holistically. Published factors include academics, direct care, Hawaiʻi residence or ties, disadvantage, underserved-service commitment, readiness for hybrid learning, and mission alignment. The committee combines interview scores, reviewer comments, and application evidence for final decisions. Official admissions page
Interview details
Confirmed
Selected applicants complete a virtual MMI. Published domains include interpersonal communication, empathy, teamwork, resilience, reflection, critical thinking, cultural humility, situational judgment, and professionalism. Official admissions page
Not published
HPU does not publish dates, station count or duration, prompts, interviewer roles or file access, scoring rubric, or quantitative weighting.
Who this program may suit
This program may suit applicants prepared for a low-residency hybrid model, required Honolulu immersions, and a mission-driven virtual MMI that emphasizes cultural humility and readiness to serve. Official program overview
Practice and next step
Practise allocating one limited same-day appointment between two patients. Make access barriers and clinical urgency explicit, avoid assumptions, choose a fair action, and explain follow-up. Review whether you demonstrate cultural humility and practical judgment, adjust one weakness, record a second attempt, and compare the two responses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hawaiʻi Pacific's interview virtual?
Yes. Selected applicants complete a virtual MMI. Official admissions page
Is the program fully online?
No. It is low-residency hybrid with required Honolulu immersions.
How much patient care is required?
Applicants need 500 direct hands-on U.S. patient-care hours.
Sources
Recommended preparation
Physician Assistant Interview Essentials
Build a credible PA interview foundation through four focused spoken responses: profession-specific motivation, interprofessional teamwork, fair clinical decision-making, and reflective use of feedback.
Page history
- Published